Hardly worth repeating: Google IPO. Analysts struggle with value calculations. Sergei & Larry write a letter. For WMW subscribers, there's discussion here. Quote from one Google document: "....there is an ongoing and increasing effort by index spammers to develop ways to manipulate our web search results...". Nice to see the SEO community getting a mention ;)
Interview: Travel writer, food critic, and sometimes search marketing expert Mike Grehan talks to the BBC (Scroll to the bottom). The video linked to from the top of that page features an article written by Barry Lloyd.
Site Architecture Part 2: Excellent thread by Tedster on Information Architecture for the Small Site at WMW.
Well shucks: Nice chaps at WMW :) How could I not point to this.
It's Friday: It is where I'm sitting, so here's some fark-style non-search distraction:
Protect Your Banana (safe for work)
A decloaking hazard. The history of streaking (probably not safe for work)
The dead zone - fascinating ride through a nuclear wasteland by a young woman on a big Kawasaki (safe for work)
Hot group action! (I'm kidding)
Have a good weekend.
GMail: I've been testing Google's new mail service, GMail. Feature-wise, it certainly appears to be one of the better WebMail services, with keyboard shortcuts, 1GB of space and low-key advertising. It will be interesting to see if they can head off privacy concerns, some of which have been either overstated or uninformed. After all, any mail system admin with sufficient access can read your e-mail if s/he felt like it. I think the bigger concern is that between search activities, toolbars, Orkut and Gmail, Google may be gathering some powerful data. Is that a good thing? For who? And is all this heading into Longhorn territory? I think Google can expect to hear more calls for transparency.
All talk: Yours truly was interviewed by John at Internet Marketing Research.
Got the look: An archive of Google's logos.
More interviews: 'Tis the season, it seems. Interesting interview with Gigablast designer Matt Wells.
Food for thought: Roving gourmet, and sometimes search commentator Mike Grehan, interviews the 'hoos search manager Jon Glick.
Show us what you've got: Article mentions that Google "may have" triggered the requirements to become a "publicly reporting'' company. Google's lips remain sealed.
A9: Amazon launches beta version of their search engine called A9. It's Google, only peach coloured.
Bloggers vs The Gurus: Blogging is clearly the new black when it comes to design. Gurus v. Bloggers Design Shootout.
Gloves off: Brett Tabke ponders "it seems Google can't please anyone these days". Also at WMW, Google adwords policy shift in relation to trademarks.
Kinja: Kinja is an excellent blog aggregation/newsreader tool. Simple to use, no extra software required, and free. You can add our atom feed here.
That man Sullivan talks: Danny Sullivan is interviewed as part of an excellent radio series on search engines. Thanks HighRankings forum for the tip.
Information Architecture: Excellent thread over at WMW on information structures and how they affect marketing.
RocketNews: Independent news aggregator, RocketNews, rolls out new features.
Are SEOs a force for good when it comes to web accessibility?: This paper looks at how search engines, through their algorithms, and search engine optimisation, have led to a growing interest in making web content more accessible.
Stats: Cre8asite forums have an interesting interview with ClickTracks main man, John Marshall, in the works. I will point to that when it becomes available in the public domain in the next few days.
Too much information: Gmail continues to encounter privacy trouble. Senator seeks Google Gmail ban.
Close scrutiny: While the search engines have become rather accustomed to being secretive about how they operate, this may not continue for much longer. The proposed Gmail is starting to ring warning bells with privacy advocates.
Strange move: Got a press release this morning announcing that "Webtrends buys WebPosition". One would assume this move wasn't made just to acquire the tech, as it's been common knowledge in the SEM community that density calculators, submission services and rank monitoring have had their day. The press release goes on to say "...our aim is to surround the marketer with all of the tools required to achieve accelerated ROI on any Web initiative....". Well, glad that's cleared that one up.
The secret source: A look under Google's hood.
AdSense changes: AdSense are changing the way they calculate click-thru payments. Some discussion here.
Don't place your bets: Overture and Google drop gambling ads.
